The Best GPS Tracker for Cats 2017 – Lost no More

Let’s talk about cats, not about a GPS Tracker for Cats, just cats. When you think about it, it’s amazing that cats are so popular as pets. They’re loners, often preferring to indulge their roaming and hunting instincts rather than be a faithful companion. Just leave me alone, most cats seem to imply, and let me explore on my own. Cats may reciprocate the affection shown them by their loyal owners, but it is always on the cat’s terms.

Here Kitty Kitty

Where do cats go all day? Many cat owners wish they could find out. Most cats know how to find their way home, but when one wanders a little too far from home, they can become lost. Or, if a cat gets trapped in a tight spot, it may not be able to return home safely. The solution to all of these problems is to put GPS technology to work!

The Thing About the GPS Tracker for Cats

Cats are small, and a lot of GPS pet trackers, for some reason, are meant for dogs (and larger dogs at that). Even if a given tracker says it’s for all sorts of pets, a large and heavy one can be extremely uncomfortable for a cat to wear. And, as anyone who has had a cat can tell you, if a cat does not like something on its body, there will be lots of scratching and biting until the cat (or you) can remove it.

When buying a GPS tracker for cats, it’s important to find one designed with cats in mind. It should be comfortable, lightweight, and not especially big. The market for GPS cat trackers is really just a year or two old, but it’s quickly establishing itself, as the need for these devices clearly exists.

Check out these GPS trackers for your kitty.

1. PawTrack – GPS Tracker for cats

PawTrack is a brand new tracker that’s made just for cats. It’s got a slim and splash proof design that looks just slightly larger than an ordinary cat collar. There’s elastic on part of it for added safety, and at 50g, it’s fairly lightweight. The GPS unit itself sits on the back of the cat’s neck, which provides comfort for kitty and the best possible GPS signal for you.

For now, you can use the PawTrack web tool to keep track of your cat; apps for iOS and Android will be launching soon. (Remember, this is a relatively new device and is still being worked on.) Functionality includes virtual fences and alerts that you set up, and you’ll also be able to see how much battery life is left on the collar.

The battery should last about six days, and the device powers down completely when it detects that the cat is sleeping. It also powers down the GPS sensor when the cat is picked up on your home’s wifi network; as long as you don’t have a cat who likes to hide inside your home, this feature is a really good one.

The whole collar charges via USB, which means you have to remove it from the cat and then put it back on. Some cats may dislike having their collar constantly put on and taken off, though we’d expect them to eventually get used to the ritual. PawTrack GPS Tracker for cats has a huge coverage area that includes the UK, US, Europe, Australia, and more — basically anywhere there’s a mobile network. The collar costs £75, and service is £5.99 per month for a minimum of 12 months.

Pros

GPS Tracker for cats and for cats only.

Some good virtual fencing abilities on the web tool.

Energy saving features.

Cons

2. Pod GPS Pet Tracker

The name of this device may be reminiscent of Apple’s highly successful music player, but this Pod is a cat tracker. Made by Australian developers as a result of a very successful Indiegogo campaign earlier this year, Pod is a cylindrical GPS pet tracker that’s about the size of a 35mm film canister (remember those?) or a wine bottle cork. The shape may seem strange at first, but Pod’s lack of sharp edges actually make it a really good product design.

Pod is super lightweight at just 29g, making it ideal for cats, though of course it can be used for dogs too. It’s five centimetres long with a diameter that’s just over two centimetres. It’s waterproof and easily attaches to your kitty’s collar, and the battery should last up to a week, depending on signal and usage.

There’s a corresponding app for iOS and Android, a web tool, and a Windows phone app in development. Using one of these will give you real time location information plus activity details (kind of like a Fitbit for cats). You can also set up virtual fences, define safe zones, and turn on perimeter and escape alerts. There’s also a social component, believe it or not, so you can compare your pet’s speed, distance travelled, and other info with that of other pets.

Pod costs $199, or about £128, and the price includes the first year of data. After that year is up, a data plan costs about £39 per year. As for where it works, the Pod GPS Tracker for cats has a huge coverage area. It works in any country with Vodafone service (over 175 in all), including the UK, US, Australia, and most locations in Europe and Asia.

Pros

Good product design.

App and web tool with helpful pet-finding features.

Huge coverage area.

Cons

3. Kippy the Pet Finder

Kippy bills itself as a pet finder, but it’s not exactly small. At 50g and six by three by two centimetres, it’s probably best for larger adult cats. The collar-mounted device is waterproof and shockproof, and when paired with the app for iOS, Android, or Windows phone, as well as the corresponding web tool, Kippy offers a number of helpful cat finding features.

Users can connect multiple pets on one login to get real time location information as well as location history. A virtual fence is easy to set up, and escape alerts can be turned on. Plus, if your pet is lost, the Kippy app will give you directions to it. Perhaps what’s most impressive about Kippy GPS tracker for cats, though, is its multilayer location capabilities. It uses GPS, of course, but when the GPS signal is weak or nonexistent, Kippy uses location based services from nearby mobile phones for positioning.

The company claims that the battery can last up to 20 days, though as always, your mileage (so to speak) may vary. There is a great energy saving feature that switches the GPS off when Kippy GPS Tracker for cats isn’t in motion, so if you’ve got a particularly snoozy cat, you may find that the battery lasts a long time. Kippy works in Europe, South Africa, India, and Turkey. The price is about £158, which is high but does include the first year of service; after the first 12 months are up, service is about £20 per year.

Pros

Good location features.

Multilayer location capabilities.

Impressive battery life and energy saving function.

Cons

4. Tractive, the Big Cat Tracker

According to the manufacturer, the 35g Tractive GPS Tracker for cats is best suited for animals that weigh 4.5kg or more. So, this means that it’s for larger adult cats only. Paired with the iOS or Android app, Tractive offers real time location information, allows you to set up a virtual fence, and sends you alerts if your kitty leaves the safe zone that you’ve defined.

One feature on the Tractive app that seems to be missing from other cat tracker apps is a pet manager. This allows you to keep all of your kitty’s vitals, including its calendar, in one place, and it can be helpful when you’re asked to describe what your lost pet looks like.

The Tractive’s battery life is two to five days, depending on the strength of the signal and how much it gets used. Its cost is comparable to other GPS cat trackers of this calibre: £79 for the device itself, and then a monthly service charge of €4,99, or £3.50.

Pros

Priced a little lower than other trackers.

Feature rich app.

Good battery life.

Cons

5. TrackR Bravo

The TrackR Bravo is gaining popularity as an all purpose tracker, and it’s easy to see why. First, it provides an affordable way to find anything: your cat, your keys, your laptop, whatever. It’s also extremely affordable, at just $29 (roughly £18) per tag; buy several, and the price per unit goes down. Plus, there are no ongoing service fees. But mostly, the more people who use TrackR and its network, the better the functionality of the device.

Here’s how it works: you attach the small, coin-sized TrackR Bravo to your cat’s collar. If you can’t find your cat, you can ring it using the app. If you’re within range, the device will make a sound so you can find it. If you go out of range, however, you can use the app to alert all TrackR Bravo users. Then, if one of them comes within range of your lost kitty, you’ll get a notification with GPS location information.

TrackR Bravo GPS Tracker for cats doesn’t have virtual fencing options or other pet specific features, but if you live in an area where there are lots of TrackR users, it can be a viable cat tracking solution. The website will let you know what the usage is like where you live. If it’s low where you are, just wait; you may find that there’s soon a wide enough community to support your using this device as a cat tracker.

Pros

Inexpensive.

Small and lightweight, making it ideal for cats.

Uses crowd GPS rather than a service that you have to continually pay for.

Cons

6. Tabcat (Loc8tor) Cat Tracker

Loc8tor is a RF-based system that allows you to locate just about anything: your kids, your vehicle, your luggage, and yes, your kitty. The Loc8tor cat tracker is a standalone unit; you get a transceiver plus two homing tags with your purchase, and you can buy up to two more homing tags to track up to four cats on one unit.

No App

Since it works on RF technology and not GPS, there’s no app. However, RF technology does offer several advantages. It’s extremely accurate — Loc8tor says that you should be able to locate your pet within two and a half centimetres (so, exactly where it’s sleeping). The battery should last up to seven months, much longer than a GPS battery will work. And the homing tags are remarkably lightweight, at just five grams.

Loc8tor’s RF signal will work up to 122 metres, which isn’t terribly far, though the company insists that it’s more than enough, as cats are highly territorial and tend not to roam too far from home. The tags come with splash proof covers, which is helpful, though probably not necessary, given cats’ aversion to all things wet.

You can also use Loc8tor to set up a sort of Pavlovian response to get your cat to come when you beep the transceiver. The company recommends beeping the device before you give kitty its food. Then, when you’re looking for the cat, beep the transceiver, and as long as your lost pet is within earshot, he or she should come running.

Loc8tor is made by a UK based company, and the original cat tracker runs about £66. This is a one time cost; there are no ongoing fees. The company plans to launch an updated cat tracking device within the next few weeks, so be on the lookout for a new Loc8tor for cats.

Pros:

RF technology for accurate, energy efficient tracking.

Can train cat to respond to it.

An affordable option.

Cons:

7. PawTrax Halo Cat Tracker

PawTrax is another UK-based company that makes trackers for both people and animals. The PawTrax Halo is its latest GPS-based cat tracker — or will be, when the company resolves its small bugs and finally starts shipping them (hopefully before 2015 is up). It looks a lot like an ordinary collar; it’s lightweight at just 20g and very thin (just eight millimetres at its thickest point). The collar is also water resistant.

PawTrax Halo is powered by a lithium poly battery, which should last between 30 and 40 hours; remember, this is a GPS device, which is a real power drain. It’s also accurate within five metres.

The device itself is fairly straightforward to set up and use. What’s not simple is its pricing structure. The PawTrax Halo itself is £95 — or again, it will be once it’s available for purchase. Then, to track your cat’s location, you have a few choices. There’s a corresponding app (for both iOS and Android), but it’s not free. Sure, it will run you just £3.99, but it is a bit frustrating to buy the app after you’ve already bought the device. There is a web platform, but that will cost you £25 for 12 months of service. So really, the £95 is not your only cost. And if you’re having trouble getting your PawTrax Halo set up, the company will gladly help you out for an additional £8.

Pros:

Small and lightweight.

GPS driven, so you can find your cat anywhere.

Easy to use.

Cons:

Purchase price is far from your only cost.

Battery life is under two days, though this is comparable to other GPS devices.

8. PetTracer GPS cat collar

With a successful Indiegogo campaign under its belt, the PetTracer GPS cat collar looks extremely promising. Like some of the others on this list, it looks just like a normal cat collar. It weighs in at just over 20g, and all of its electronic components are assembled on one flexible piece, so it’s super comfortable for kitty to wear. The PetTracer is also highly water resistant, not that your cat will be playing in puddles, but at least you know that you’ll still receive a signal if Fluffy gets caught out in the rain.

The corresponding PetTracer app allows for real time tracking, and you can easily set up safety zones and get alerts if your cat goes outside of them. You can also learn your cat’s favourite places to go and even get a feline fitness analysis.

The PetTracer is amazingly energy efficient for a GPS device — its battery lasts up to four weeks! That’s virtually unheard of for anything with a GPS sensor.

The Swiss company behind PetTracer has dealt with several setbacks since its Indiegogo campaign wrapped up in January 2015. While it feels like shipping should be imminent, there’s no date set yet, nor is there a set price. However, based on the prices for its crowdfunding supporters, it does look like the PetTracer will be one of the more expensive cat tracking options at an estimated £200 or more. Still, the PetTracer looks like it will work extremely well when it’s finally available — whenever that may be.

Pros:

Lightweight, comfortable, and water resistant.

Robust app with lots of features.

Highly energy efficient for a GPS device.

Cons:

9. Findster Pets

After successfully wrapping up its Indiegogo campaign two years ago, Findster Pets is finally available for purchase. Findster itself is not a dedicated cat tracker — it’s a small device that can be used to keep tabs on the location of cats, dogs, kids, the elderly, and anyone (or anything) else you want to be able to locate on a map at any given moment.

The Findster Pets unit uses GPS plus a three-axis accelerometer to provide real time location information. There are no ongoing or monthly fees associated with this product, but that’s because it relies heavily on base units, guardian modules (that you have to wear), and crowd GPS to locate your pet or whatever it is you’re tracking. It’s able to provide real time location information as long as your cat is within range: about two kilometres from a base station or about one kilometre from the guardian module.

Findster Pets does have geofencing with smart notifications, as well as an activity tracker for your kitty. What’s more, because it relies on other connected devices, it’s a cat tracker that will work anywhere in the world. However, functionality is obviously greater if you’re in an area where more people have a Findster module on their pets or on their kids.

Battery life is up to 18 hours for each module, which isn’t much, and all the parts charge via the included charger. You can order a Findster Pet package now for $99 USD, or about £76, and that will get you a guardian module, a pet module, and a charging module. For a base station, add another $99 (£76) to the cost.

10. Weenect Tracker For Cats

Originally created as a GPS tracker intended for parents to keep track of their kids, the Paris-based Weenect is now also in the business of tracking senior citizens, dogs (including hunting companions), and, of course, cats. Their GPS Tracker for cats is lightweight at just 25g, and the company claims that it’s the smallest GPS cat tracker in the world. The battery lasts about four days, and you get a charger when you buy a tracker.

Perhaps what’s most impressive about the Weenect cat tracker is the tremendous functionality of its app. Available for both iOS and Android, the app can not only locate your pet and send alerts when your cat leaves the designated safe zone, but it also has a talk back feature to allow you to verbally communicate with your kitty, no matter where he or she is. The GPS tracker for cats has a built in microphone, so your cat can talk back to you (for what that’s worth).

The Weenect cat tracker is available for preorder for €89, or about £62, making it a relatively affordable option. It’s expected to ship in early 2016. The purchase price includes one month of cellular service; an additional 12 months will run you €50, or about £35. The app will send you all the push notifications and emails it needs to, but if you want to receive text messages instead, that will cost you €5 (or £3.50) for 50.

Pros:

Small and lightweight.

Outstanding app with talk back feature.

Relatively affordable.

Cons:

11. Nuzzle

The big selling point of Nuzzle is that it’s a GPS-enabled tracker that also has a 3G cell chip and carries no monthly fees — at all. Using the app, you can always see where your kitty is wandering, set up geofences, and receive alerts if Precious strays too far from home.

The other strong feature of Nuzzle is that it’s an activity tracker, monitoring your cat’s walking or running route, distance travelled, active time, and pace. If the GPS cat collar is perhaps a little to chunky, this is a great way to monitor overall health. In fact, the Nuzzle app can be integrated with Embrace Pet Insurance information to have all of your pet’s health details in one handy place.

Nuzzle is small, weighing in at just 28g, and it can fit on its own collar or on third party collars. It’s got a red and white safety light, a temperature monitor, impact detection, and it’s waterproof. Two rechargeable batteries are included, and if you’ve got multiple kitties, you can track them all on one app.

After wrapping up a successful Indiegogo campaign this past fall that raised over $100,000 USD, Nuzzle is currently available for pre-order for $169 (about £117). The first units should go out in November 2016. Currently, Nuzzle is available in the US only, though an international version is planned for release soon.

Pros:

GPS tracking with no monthly fees!

Full activity monitoring.

Lots of useful safety features.

Cons:

12. Whistle

Whistle is a basic GPS cat tracker. It does have a cell chip in it, but there aren’t a lot of bells and, err, whistles (sorry). However, if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive cat tracker, Whistle will get the job done.

The corresponding app is actually quite nice, as it does allow users to create custom zones for geofencing, receive location alerts, and even do live GPS tracking on their cat. You can also keep track of some simple health details, like when you last took Fluffy in for a vet appointment, dates of shots, and so on.

It’s also quite nice looking, with a sleek, brushed steel aesthetic. Whistle is rugged, however, and it’s totally waterproof. It is a big on the heavy side, though, at 37g, so it’s really not meant for small cats. Battery life is an impressive ten days.

Whistle is priced affordably at just $79 (£55), but then there’s the monthly fee of around $7-10 (£5-7) per month. And coverage is in the US only — for now.

Pros:

Highly affordable.

GPS tracking for live tracking.

Geofencing and tracking health data included on the app.

Cons:

13. Pod 2

The Pod 2 is a lot like the first Pod, which is also included on our list. However, the Pod 2 includes wifi — a seemingly small detail, but it allows for faster locating when your cat is within wifi range, and it also allows for indoor locating.

The great features on the first Pod are still there: on-demand location information, an activity monitor for keeping track of Fluffy’s fitness, geofencing with escape notifications, and even a way to record up to eight hours of your cat’s travels (if you’re into that sort of thing). It’s fairly lightweight at just 29g, and it comes with two rechargeable batteries, so you’ll never have to let your kitty out without a Pod 2 around its neck. Plus, the Pod 2 is highly waterproof, not that your cat’s going swimming, but just in case some there’s a splashing incident.

The Pod 2 is a bit pricey at $199 (£138), but that price does include the first year of GPS service; it’s $49 (about £34) per year after that. What’s more, the Pod 2 is truly international: it works in 175 countries throughout the six major continents.

Pros:

GPS and wifi for excellent tracking.

App has lots of useful features.

Works in 175 countries.

Cons:

14. PetPace

The PetPace is more focused on tracking your cat’s health rather than its location. It’s sort of like a really good Fitbit — for your cat! Yes, really. It measures things like your pet’s temperature, pulse, respiration, and activity. It also keeps tabs on posture and positions, which can be extremely useful if your cat is recovering from an injury or operation.

The corresponding app will send you notifications if things aren’t quite right: heart rate is too high, for example, or if your pet hasn’t moved in a while. There’s no geofencing or location data, though, since there’s no GPS.

PetPace is rugged, and its rechargeable battery should last about six weeks between charges. With a weight of 43g, it’s meant for larger cats, and it’s currently licensed in the US, Canada, and UK only. This isn’t a cheap device, at $149.95 (£104) plus another £14.95 (£10) per month service fee. Still, if tracking your cat’s health and activity is a priority, the PetPace is the tracker you’re after.

Pros:

Full feline activity tracking.

Notifications if anything isn’t right.

Battery lasts an impressive six weeks.

Cons:

15. Tile

Tile isn’t a cat-specific tracker — it’s an everything-specific tracker. For $25, you get a 37mm by 37mm Tile device that you can attach to anything: your laptop, your wallet, your bike, and yes, even your cat. It weighs 37g and has a small hole in it, so attaching it to any cat collar is convenient.

Rather than running on expensive GPS, Tile works via Bluetooth. If you’re concerned that your range will be limited by this, that’s justified: the range is just 100 feet. However, if your cat goes beyond that 100 foot limit (which, let’s face it, it will), you can use Tile’s Community Find feature to locate your pet. This takes advantage of others in your area who have the Tile app installed, and it’s totally private, so they’ll never know that kitty is lost. But, when another Tile user comes within 100 feet of your beloved, you’ll get a notification with location data.

Obviously, Tile is best in more populated areas with a high number of Tile users; it’s maybe less useful in more rural areas. And there’s no geofencing or cat-specific features like that, but Tile’s advantage is that it’s a low cost and fairly effective introduction to tracking. Plus, if you try it on your cat and you’re not happy with how it’s working, you can always use it to track something else.

One Tile costs just $25, so you’re not out a huge amount or locked into paying any monthly fees. The battery on a Tile lasts about a year, after which you’ll need to get a new one and send in your old one for recycling.

Pros:

Super low cost.

Community Find feature.

Can track anything with it.

Cons:

16. GPCats

Another product brought to life as a result of a successful Kickstarter campaign, GPCats is a device made by a company that was co-founded by a veterinarian. True to its name, GPCats is a tracker designed specifically for cats; it’s small and super lightweight at just 19g, with a safety collar that’s completely comfortable for your feline friend.

GPCats offers live GPS and geofencing with alerts. Its battery lasts up to five days between charges, which is longer than many GPS pet trackers on the market today. However, GPCats isn’t exactly on the market yet; you can pre-order one now, and it should be in your hands by the end of summer 2016.

It may not seem like there’s anything distinctive or special about GPCats besides the fact that it’s lightweight, but that’s because we haven’t mentioned its price yet. So let’s talk cost: the GPCats is expected to retail for $129 USD (or £99) once it’s officially released. However, for the next few weeks, you can get it for the low pre-order price of $89 (or £68). What’s more, that includes free service for the first year; after that, the service fee for the GPCats is just £22 per year. Finally, the GPCats comes with an unlocked SIM card, which means it will work anywhere in the world.

17. The Paw Tracker

Not to be confused with PawTrax, the Paw Tracker is a US-based product that offers the basic features in an admittedly cute paw shaped design. It has real time GPS tracking plus a location history, so you can see where your cat is and where your cat’s been. However, the Paw Tracker can show you approximately where your cat is; it’s accurate give or take 30 feet. That’s OK for general vicinity information, but if you’ve got a cat that really likes to hide, the device’s lack of pinpoint location may be frustrating.

The Paw Tracker has geofencing capabilities and can alert you when your cat leaves a predefined area. Plus, this tracker works with wifi, and you can get notifications when your pet leaves your home wifi network. It’s also waterproof and shockproof — two good qualities to have in any pet tracker.

The battery life on the Paw Tracker is impressive: about 12 days in standby mode and two and a half with GPS turned on. It weighs 40g and is available in three colours. As for cost, the Paw Tracker retails for $99.95 USD (about £77), but after the first 30 days of free service, there are fees of either $9.95 per month of $99.95 per year. What’s more, the Paw Tracker works in North America only; it’s fine if you live in most of the US, Canada, and Mexico (and there is a map on the device’s website), but there’s no coverage in other parts of the world.

Not Available Anymore

Kaddz Cat Tracker

UPDATE: Another one bites the dust. Kaddz have gone bankrupt and Appcessories.co.uk do not recommend the Kaddz cat tracker.

Another cat tracker from Switzerland is Kaddz. It’s got a slim profile and works via GPS and mobile phone signals. It weighs a bit more than some other trackers, coming in at 46g, but it is easy to take off, and it does have a safety release should something get caught in it. The battery should last up to five days, and you receive two with your purchase, so you never have to send your cat out without a fully-powered Kaddz collar.

The corresponding app, which is available for both iOS and Android, offers several useful features. You can always see where your cat is roaming or sleeping, and yes, you’ll know if your cat is awake or asleep. If you’ve got more than one cat, you can track them all using the same app, but a different GPS tracker for cats obviously. And if it’s dark out, there’s no need to worry: you can activate lights and sound on the collar to help you figure out where your kitty is hiding.

The Kaddz cat tracking collar is currently available for purchase for €199, or about £140. This price includes a year’s worth of mobile service. (Remember, this one uses mobile data to track your cat’s whereabouts.) After the first 12 months are up, each additional year will cost €72, or about £50.

Pros:

Comes with two batteries, so your collar can always be charged.

App with lots of useful features, including light and sound activation on the collar.

GPS and mobile service means you can find your cat almost anywhere.

Cons:

What to Look For in a Cat Tracker

First and foremost, when you’re buying a cat tracker, it needs to be something that’s lightweight and comfortable for your cat. Even though they all have fairly good locking mechanisms, many cats have a way of tearing off collars that they hate. And even if your cat can’t chew it off, you don’t want your poor pet to be miserable because of his or her new tracking device.

Next, you’re probably looking to buy a tracker so you know where your cat is at all times, so a built-in GPS chip is all but essential. Other methods, such as crowd GPS and RF technology, can be found in some trackers, and they do work, but it’s tough to beat the precise location afforded by a GPS sensor.

There are other helpful features to look for, like an app that’s easy to use, geo-fencing for alerts, and a long lasting battery. Your own needs and preferences will dictate what capabilities you’re after in a cat tracker.

GPS Tracker for Cats – Conclusion

Cats may know where home is, but it’s hard to suppress a feline’s desire to wander and explore. With a GPS tracker for cats, you can always know where your kitty has gone. Plus, if your cat really runs off, a good tracker will give you location information so you can find it and bring it home.

Cat trackers can be found at several price points and with a variety of features. Depending on your specific cat tracking needs, one of the five mentioned here should work well for you.

Author

Daniel is the resident Editor-in-Chief of the Appcessories blog, and is abreast of all the latest developments. He has always been enthusiastic about technology, and this has helped him to bridge the gap between techies and mainstream readers. An avid mac user; he would never be caught without his iPad air, iPhone and Mac Powerbook. Daniel splits his time between London and Glasgow, but is always wired into appcessories wherever he is.

There are 83 comments

I found another GPS Cat collar which looks even better than the pawtrack collar which I purchased/received a few weeks ago. Unfortunately the KADDZ GPS Collar is currently only available in Europe and the website http://www.kaddz.com is only in German language.
It would be great if the KADDZ collar could be tested by MAX in order to get an better overview
of all available GPS cat collars. Thanks

KADDZ is now available to the UK market – I am a UK blogger and am in the process of product testing it for them post launch. Please check out my review posts at http://www.jamjargill.com/?s=%23KADDZ for more information 🙂

We listened to this comment too and spent £155 a few weeks ago, Kaddz have just announced they are seeking bankruptcy and admitted they have known for months! The company is going to be liquidated and no doubt we will lose our money

I have loc8or on my 5 felines. Works incredibly well. Even finding collars when they’ve come off, cats up trees and under floor boards! No need to charge constantly and no ongoing costs apart from batteries very occasionally.

I was just looking at the loc8tor for my cat who manages to climb up and over the cat fencing we have, lol. He seems to stay in our front garden but would love to know where he is if he leaves the yard. The one feature I think the gps systems have over it are the ability to just look up where they are from inside without actually going looking for them. Do you have any other input on the loc8tor system? Thanks

Love the Loc8tor system and really have come to depend on it to keep the cat safe but it’s not overly durable. In six months I’ve already had to return the receiver and now both the transmitters have gone kaput. Loc8tor replaced the receiver with no problem and I am hoping they can repair/replace the transmitters as quickly.

Had same issue with loca8er, first ones stopped working after 2 weeks so contacted and replacement set sent. That too stopped working after another a month, tried replacement batteries in tracker and tab but no change. One of my cats has just gone missing, going for a gps tracker now and need something I can trust to work

Have tried 3x replacement Pawtrack’s and still not performing as the supplier intended. Lost GSM signal for anything up to an hour, GPS has been up to 0.5 mile out. Just bought an Austrian unit has been perfect for over a week now, Pawtrack will not refund!

Tried 3x replaced Pawtrack trackers still not performing as the supplier intended. Lost GSM signal for anything up to an hour, GPS has been anything up to 0.5 mile out. Just bought an Austrian unit perfect for over two weeks now. Pawtrack will not refund!

I’m so confused! So which tracker should I buy? I’ve looked at Pawtrack which seemed ideal, until I read the bumph and it seems that loads of ppl never receive their unit, or if they do it doesn’t work!

I’m going to look at more reviews, but I’d appreciate some feedback asap from folk who’ve used a gps tracker on their cat successfully.

I got Pawtrack and wanted so much for it to work, but sadly it has been a huge bust. I live in Northern New Jersey, pretty close to NYC so I figured that I would be fine with the signal, etc. but it just isn’t so. And I missed the 14 day return policy trying to be patient and think that it would work. Great idea,but not executed well… 🙁

I wanted it to work as well but found them to bulky and heavy and was hoping for a Mark II to be released by now as I think there was a lot of space that could have been saved but clearly they were not able to get the weight down.

I am in the middle of looking for a GPS collar for my Maine Coon and they are all very similar in terms of cost, size and weight and batter life.

Looking at the above I think that I am going to go with the POD 2 purely based on the fact that it comes with 2 batteries and you don’t have to remove the whole collar to charge & change the battery.

The comments about Pawtrack are interesting in how it’s not great and doesn’t properly work and that that they have replaced and still wont refund. PawTrax is my next option followed by Tabcat Loc8ter.

Hi Chris. Had good experience with the tractive, battery lasts all day, at night one can activate a strobe to identify his position also a buzzer. We fitted it to a small harness so it is on his back rather than round the neck which we feel is much better, also it is fully waterproof. Tracks position every second and one can recall the last 24 hour history. Does not stop him catching rabbits.

I want to record my cat’s location and look at it later on a desktop computer. It doesn’t need to be real-time or have any geofencing/perimeter options. Simple is better. I estimate his roaming range is 300ft. He is a small cat so, no Whistle. I like the appearance and size of the Trackr Bravo

Esther – I know your question is rather old, but I would recommend G-Paws. It is very small, and it is just a location recorder. You download your cat’s “adventures” by plugging the device into your computer when your cat gets home. I’ve been through several of them (some of them my cat lost when his collar came off, and a few of them stopped working). If my cat doesn’t lose them, they seem to last for about a year before my PC stops “seeing” them when I plug them in. They are quite inexpensive (Best Buy sells them for about $40).

Hi, just thought you might want to update your readers that the Tractive is about to become unusable in Australia, as the 2G network that they use is being switched off in December 2015. I was actually about to buy it based on your review until I asked the online support chat what network they used. I actually felt kinda bad, based on the incredibly long gap between my mentioning the shutdown and their reply, I think they were unaware. They were unable to tell me of any planned upgrades, and when I pointed out their website had nothing mentioning the change in functionality (i.e. it will become a very pretty paperweight come Christmas time) they said they would forward it on to their manager.

What would you all recommend to track my cat so I know if he is in my neighbours garden – as he is terrorising their cats and they are running up big vet bills – I need to be able to see exact location on my iPhone so am thinking weenect, am in UK

Just wanted to add my feedback as I am again looking for new collars, I ordered two Pawtrack collars last November and returned them both unused as they were 85 grams and not the advertised 50 grams on their website. I now see they have updated their website to 70 grams. We have Burmese cats, same as the creator of Pawtrack so thought they would be fine but I would not want my cats walking around with such a heavy tracker, they are not small, both males and about 5kg in weight. Perhaps more suited to the large cat breed like Main Coon’s .

With Kaddz going bust, does anyone know if any of these trackers have the ability to keep working if the manufacturer goes out of business?

I’ve just lost a cat to an RTA and have 6 others. They seem to roam up to 3k in all directions and I’m looking buy a couple of devices to figure out their routines, then keep track the most adventurous. They’re all small (4-4.5 kg) and a bit feral.

I’m a little wary of the investment, as the tech has just got started.

See my blog 18/03/16. Now have the Austrian Tractive, weighs only 35grams. Our cat at that time weighed only 3kgs, we fitted it to a harness with its breakaway clip. Battery life if tracked every second about 7.5hrs, in standard mode 48hrs, this sends a signal between 5-60min depending upon his speed. One can check his actual position at any time, also shows the accuracy at that position, generally we found within 2mtrs. Their backup second to none, highly recommend this waterproof unit.

Lol I thought I was the only one who wants a chip inside my cats. ALWAYS
stick with a break away collar …please don’t risk your precious kitties with a regular collar. I remember one of my cats coming in with the collar wrapped around her legs and that was an elasticated one.! After that I switched to a red highly reflective breakaway collar. Expensive (as one of my cats is always getting into fights) but easily replacable unlike my Tiger and its stilll worth it as I bulk buy from Amazon.

My cat has just returned after being missing for a week! He has wandered before but not for this long! I can’t cope with the worry every time he goes on a wander so am considering a GPS collar. He’s quite small and skinny. I am really confused as to which to go for. I’m also confused as to whether it’s the pawtrack or pawtrax that gets the bad reviews? Any advice? Thanks

Hi Louise. See my blog of the 18th March and 21st August. I agree about not using a collar with a small cat, that is why we used a harness. Simple to fit and being such a tough device, takes his welcome rolling on the the hard stony driveway upon his return.

HI Louise,I Completely understand your worries for your cat as I am typing in the garden I am anxiously waiting for tiger to come back from his evening walkabout.I brought the Locator and it was a godsend as we had just moved into our new home and my cat fuji could not be found all evening but the loc8ator was giving a signal and flashing when we pointed it around the house .We feared the worst and thought she might have tried to go back to our old home and that would have involved many dangerous roads for her to cross.The next morning we tried the loc8ator again and found the little little madam hiding in a tiny corner of the loft the whole time she was just frightened of her new surroundings .The loc8ator was correct she WAS nearby we just didn’t think to check that deep in the loft .Of course you must have one of the keys on your cats collar to locate him/her .

I think I am going to go with the Pawtrax Halo. The loc8ator and tractive are too big. Has anyone used Pawtrax? I am also struggling to see on the website if it has a safety breakaway collar? Thanks everyone for your comments

Pawtrax you can change it and attach it to another collar. I use a flea collar on my cat so just threaded the device on the collar instead. Downside is having to take the collar off each time you need to recharge it. Also because its a weight versus lightness of the collar alone, the device always ends up under the cats chin. – Its a flaw with all the designs not just pawtrax that wrap around the collar. What is needed for cats is a smaller device that simply clips into the collar and can be unclipped without having to remove the collar each time you need to charge it.

Had a loc8tor. didnt even work from the front to the back of the house. ( 8 metres) open field yes. but once urban and a wall or hedge in the way its a bust.
The built in battery is my bug bear. I want interchangeable battery! Isnt that an obvious thing to want?
quick battery swap and thats it..
There MUST be options for this? Surely???
That dont cost a kidney???

Thanks James – looks interesting. I used the previous version of Loc8tor and found it useful but limited in range . I am concerned that GPS might have the range but not the accuracy ( I have missed cats 2 feet away under a hedge before – hence the use of Loc8tor ) This product looks to address both issues – regards Graham

Great story except Tabcat doesn’t work. A crap product. Their previous product LoCATor was so robust and worked so well. Why tinker with something that worked? I was stupid enough to assume that the same quality would be inherent in this new design. I bought four of them, with waterproof covers. I activated all of them and tested them after activation. All seemed well, right up until I actually need it to work two weeks late. One of our cats went missing. I searched all night and all the next day confident that the Tabcat would show me where he was. I couldn’t pick his tracker up at all. The handheld receiver would intermittently spurt lights then die. I finally found him. He was only a few houses away dying from injuries after being hit by a car. Thanks Tabcat you’re great. I checked all the other cats trackers and none of them worked. I replaced the batteries and they worked periodically.The nearest I can tell is they malfunction because there isn’t sufficient scaffolding within the case to hold the battery in place and it slips away from the contacts. I’m going to toss them all in the bin and build a cat enclosure only way to make sure the cats can be located.

I tried the TRackr Bravo but they didnt even locate my cats when they were in our small garden. The app looked promising but as they only work on bluetooth I don’t honestly think they can be considered as a serious cat tracker. Desperate for a GPS tracker, what is recommended currently for use in the UK? Thanks.

Well I for one, am thrilled with the Pawtrack collar! I have a neutered Ragdoll cat, which would absolutely hate to be a house cat, but who takes his freedom to extremes. Unlike my other cats, which are content to potter round the garden and come back after an hour or so, Toby travels miles and frequently gets lost, sometimes for 48 hours or more. We are in a very rural location, a long way from any roads, but do have a local game shoot and a local hunt, both of which frequent this wooded area, and are not a good combination with an idiotic cat. I bought a Pawtrack collar in desperation, and it has transformed Toby’s adventures, and my sleepless nights! Not only can I check where Toby is, in real time, and collect him before darkness falls, but the playback feature has allowed me to see the routes he favours, which are beginning to show a pattern. This means that if he should ever lose the collar, (I have written my phone number on the outside with a white permanent marker as an extra safeguard) I will have a pretty good idea where to look for him. I had absolutely no clue what he got up to before getting the Pawtrack collar, and the results have surprised me a bit – not least because he goes a lot further than I had ever imagined. I also would like to praise the excellent customer support I’ve received. I wasn’t particularly confident about setting up the collar, but my initial, rather frequent requests for help were met with very prompt courteous assistance – even in the evening, and within a few hours we were up and running. Toby had never worn a collar of any sort before, so I wasn’t sure whether he would tolerate this, but after an initial scratch or two, he completely ignored it and now charges off on his feline adventures every morning, allowing me to fit the collar without protest. Maybe some of you will think that I’m daft letting a Ragdoll cat outside the door, but he’d be climbing the walls if I kept him confined to the house, and thanks to this brilliant product, Toby is enjoying a happy, very fulfilled life – and I’m getting some sleep!

Hi Ricardo. Please read my previous comments about Pawtrack. I note Sarah’s write up, but that is possible the latest unit released by them in August. However, because of my experience and others regarding Pawtrack’s attitude, I would not consider them. I replaced the unit with an Austrian one since the Spring called Tracker, can only say the unit has been fantastic and customer service second to none. We mount it on a harness ( comes with a safety clip ) to ensure there is no entanglement with a collar and is comfortable for him. Continuous tracking, battery lasts 7-8hours, standard mode 48 hours. You can switch remotely between the two just to check his current position if you wish, then back again to standard mode. Hope this has helped you.

Hi Sarah. As I said, the new model may work, but with past experience and others if there is a problem because of Pawtrack’s attitude, I would not consider dealing with the company. Thank goodness the credit card company was sympathetic.

Hello Colin. I can only really comment on my own experiences, which have been positive, and I found the Pawtrack customer support to be very good. I don’t really know what went on before we bought ours. Either way – Toby hasn’t gone since I bought the collar and I have peace of mind now.

We found our cat today after being lost for 6 weeks so are keen to explore GPS tracking options in the UK. pawtrack.com seems to be completely out of their 3G collar in any territory and 3G seems a better bet over a 2G only one. Does this mean they are very popular and/or are about to go bankrupt as they can’t afford to buy any new stock? A company with no stock surely has no future!

Hi Tim. Would not like to comment on your theory. I had three replacements from his first batch that did not work, like others experance, Pawtrack attitude was something else, therefore will not deal with that company again, as they say, ‘You cannot change the spots on a Leopard’. Their new batch that was released supposedly in August which may now work, so one is hardly going to get any complaints! I use the Tracker from Austria, see my previous comments. Cost about half the price of the new Pawtrack!! I do not know which system they use, I known it does roam from one suppliers cell to another depending upon signal strength. Suggest you contact them, their backup service is excellent.

Hi Tim. Just found out the Tractive uses 2G. As yet, never lost a signal unless the cell is lost say for maintenance for not more than a minute while it searches for another provider. By the way we have the Hunter version, more rugged and has extra facilities.

Please help…I live in a wooded mountain area in nc, USA. Cell service is stretchy unless in my home with a cell phone booster. I just lost my little deaf cat, spent over 24hrs combing the woods and spoke to all neighbors. I was sure a fox or coyote had gotten him. Then late last night he turned up unharmed, a blessing! We NEVER let him out after dark, but he wasn’t around when the sun set and looked for him from then on. He won’t be allowed out until I have some sort of tracker on him. Well GPS work in the woods or radio kind? Any feedback is welcome. I’ve been researching since his return, still confused…

Just to say that I went for the Pod Tracker in the end for our tabby cat Daisy although have also got a TrackR Bravo on her so can also “ring” her indoors! After being lost for 6 weeks she has regained a lot of the weight she lost and is now about 4 kg whereas has been up to 5 kg. She doesn’t seem to mind wearing a collar with both on despite the fact that she spent her first 9 years with no collar whatsoever. Quite impressed with the Pod Tracker so far and the fact you can locate her using either phone app or via a website. So far she has gone pretty much no further than next door! We lost her on a trip away from our house so GPS then would have been invaluable.

Talk to Pawtrack. I can’t praise them enough. The tracker collar is brilliant and I’ve managed to keep tabs on our wandering moggy and now have peace of mind, even though his adventures can take him miles from home.

Hi guys.
Looking to get a gps collar for my cat after he disappeared for 6 months and then turned up at the vets yesterday . I have read through the reviews and most of the comments but want to know if anyone has any further good/bad experience of products in the UK? And given that products are coming out all the time is there something else coming soon or new out that’s worth going for?
Thanks for any advice
Mike

Hello Mike. I can only reiterate what I’ve said before. We’ve been using the Pawtrack collar for several weeks now with no problems whatsoever. Our wayward cat, Toby, travels miles and is apt to get lost. Since getting the collar, I can not only see where he is at any time, but I can play back his movements over the previous hours/days, so I now know his usual routes – which has been quite a revelation! I have also found that customer support has been excellent, with queries answered promptly. Even when I sent an email one Sunday evening with a minor question, I received a reply within an hour. Hope this helps. Pawtrack is based in the U.K.

Amazing your cat came up back after so long! We thought 6 weeks for our Daisy was an age. I think one thing to be aware of in the UK is that the Vodafone 2G network is due to be shut down on 30th Sept next year – see https://help.podtrackers.com/kb/i-heard-the-2g-network-is-shutting-down-what-happens-then/ So whilst the Pod Tracker I bought works fine now it probably won’t afterwards. However I this was a “one-off” purchase and in a year’s time maybe there will be better/alternative options. So check what phone network the one you are interested is on and don’t tied into a contract for something that maybe switched off part way through it.

Thanks for the info guys. The Pawtrack looks great but unfortunately is a little out of my price range at, and as i have 2 cats and may buy 2 in the end. Has anyone got any experience with the GPCats Collar? there is an offer on at the moment for £89 which includes a years service which sounds reasonable. I did like the look of the pod tracker tim and if it was any cheaper would have went for it, but won’t anymore if its on vodaphone.

Mike, I have purchased GPCats triple pack for my 3 cats but found out immediately upon activating it that it is really a crap product! The GPS works only if the cat is somewhere in the open space and not covered by any roof or car or even a tree! Given that cats are naturally always hiding somewhere and hardly ever in the open space, this is rather ridiculous idea! And it is not giving you live tracking at all but you need to wait at least 20 min for the next reading, which makes it impossible to locate your cat unless he has not wondered off somewhere else if you are lucky! The battery runs out very quickly too. Also, it cannot see your cat inside the house so you have no idea if the cat is back yet or not (mine use a cat flap)! The battery runs out very quickly too. What’s more, there is not a dedicated app for it yet but you have to use the web page, which is very inconvenient and doesn’t open sometimes. Frankly, I felt coned by the company as they don’t tell you these facts in the product description at all. Having said that, they have responded to my email and said I could give it back and get a refund. So I did before Christmas but not refund as yet…Will keep you posted when this happens…

Hi Mike. Please see my previous comments about Pawtrack over the past year. I cannot comment on their latest version released a few months ago, only the experience on the previous product and their backup. I am not keen on collars for cats, rather use a harness of which size is then not important, usually then should be more rugged. I changed over to the Tractive from Austria. The cost is very competitive and I can only say their service is second to none. Never lost a signal, even in the barn amongest the metal farm machinery and is totally waterproof. I do note that any bad comments about Pawtrack from other sources are removed, on their FB ones e-mail is blocked as a neuscence.

Pawtrax customer service was prompt however don’t expect any warm fuzzy feelings. I find them curt, in fact too curt for customer service. The products is big for most medium sized cats and always moves to under the cats chin. Its the weight of it so gravity will always win. Also every time you want to charge it you have to take it off the cat. Might not be a problem for dogs but ever try herding a cat? The design needs to be tweaked for cats – make a clip-on version that you can clip-off when you need to charge it. And pawtrax – be nice to people – we are your customers after all!

Pod Tracker still going OK and they have been prompt to answer any questions. It has however revealed my cat (Daisy) does not go far at all but useful for the reassurance. Have also discovered that if turn off the “safe zone” (which polls GPS much more often) then should get at least 2 days battery and not the more like 36 hours had been getting otherwise. Best bit, I think, is that I can pull out my phone, iPad or web browser and “Locate” Daisy from anywhere. Only one “snag” one day when Daisy’s collar came off but found it in the shrubbery by the back door with Daisy looking pleased for herself nearby but otherwise she doesn’t seem to mind wearing it and even stays fairly still while I change out the battery – they give you two so don’t need to remove collar.

Hello Mike,
I’m so happy you got your cat back after 6 months, you have given me hope that my cat may yet return, he has been missing for just over six months, there has been a sighting of him 2 months ago, so I’m sure he is still alive somewhere, I just wish I had fitted a tracker on him. My other cat went missing for a week and returned yesterday, so now I have decided to purchase a tracker for him. I see your post was in December and was curious as to which tracker you decided to go with, as I have no idea which one to choose.
regards,
Sylvia

Hi all, interesting blog and reviews however I still do not know which one to buy for my cat.
He will be 17 this year and I worry about him a lot .
He already wears a collar with a magnet on to operate his catflap although I can change the catflap if necessary as getting the right tracker is the most important.
I can see one person constantly saying not to buy the Pawtrack but I need more than that to go against it.
I don’t want a heavy pod or collar , my cat is nearly 6kg so not a small cat.
With the SIM cards do you then get extra charges when you are using the gps tracking?
What I’m after is something not too bulky, good app so I can watch and track him, reliable and something to ease my worries.
Any help to get me to chose one would be appreciated. Thanks

I have to agree with the negative comments about Pawtrack 🙁 It wasn’t available to buy for a long time then when I finally placed an order I had to chase it after a week of no contact. When it arrived it was big, bulky, cumbersome (lots of pieces to fit together) and simply didn’t work. The customer support did try to help and offered to replace it but I gave up. I returned the item then had to chase the refund over a week later.

I would recommend if you are in need of a cat collar with GPS and no monthly fees to check out Scollor Mini (http://1e.fnd.to/scollar/). It is a complete collar with a breakaway latch, a display screen, motion and temperature sensors, and expands with a vibration module that can be used for training as well as setting up keep our areas like the countertops. It weighs less than 40 grams, has iOS and Android apps as well as cloud service, and is an open platform.

It sounds like there is quite a bit of confusion around which products have which features. It’s a shame our Pod 3 GPS tracker + activity monitor device (new in 2017) isn’t listed here as I believe it meets most of the requirements everyone is asking about.

– It has unlimited range within 3G cellular service (any TRUE GPS tracker will require cell reception – this is a requirement for communication on a remote GPS tracker) and works in 175 countries, including the US. It has a subscription fee, but the unit price is $129 and the fee is less than $5 per month.
– It is small and lightweight (31g – 1″ x 2″) and can attach to any sized collar
– Fully waterproof, comes with 2 batteries so you never have to fully remove the collar to re-charge
– You can attach additional features like a high-powered LED light, extended battery or a sound module if you need it (other modules available as well)
– It doubles as an Activity Monitor
– Has the standard “Safe Zone” (with adjustable refresh rates starting at 2 minutes) features and allows for adventure recording

The newer model features more accurate GPS locating and it has Wi-Fi technology so it can locate indoors. We might be a bit biased, but it’s one of the most advanced pet trackers to date and is still small and lightweight. You can find out more at podtrackers.com : )

I also will take this opportunity to address why “a lot of GPS trackers, for some reason, are made for dogs.” True GPS tracking technology is complex and functions similarly to a mobile phone. Making a tracker that works is easy but to make one small enough for an animal, companies must find a way to squeeze all of that technology into a teeny device and make sure it has the battery life to last! Your mobile phone probably lasts somewhere in the range of 1-2 days, weighs quite a lot, costs quite a lot and is very large. Now try to imagine all of that in a smaller casing with longer battery life, lower cost but with the same functionality. There is a GPS chip, a cellular chip (SIM), an accelerometer, Wi-Fi chip, Bluetooth chip and other bits which are all required to make it work (plus battery). So while it may seem like companies are favoring those precious pooches out there, it’s generally because the technology is so limiting! The good news is technology is changing rapidly and the GPS tracking companies like Pod are keeping up with those changes so there is much promise for smaller units in the future.

I hope that help but if you have any other questions about Pod or GPS tracking tech in general, we have 24 hour live chat where someone can answer your questions.

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